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You’d think that I would be used to the intensity those silver orbs always reflected back at me. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be. They entrapped me, pulling me into an iron cell and then slamming the door.
“Nothing for you to worry about.”
“Somehow, that makes me feel like I should worry more.”
He smiled and lifted a hand to cup my cheek. “That’s cute.”
“Judas.”
His smile spread into a grin, revealing two perfect rows of ultra-white teeth. It was unfair how gorgeous he was.
He traced the outline of my lips with the pad of his thumb, studying them as if they held some kind of secret all their own.
“You have the most kissable, fuckable mouth.”
I laughed and knocked his hand away from my face. “I don’t know how I feel about that kind of compliment.”
“Blessed,” he shot back matter-of-factly.
“Whatever, don’t think I missed how you deflected just now.”
“I didn’t deflect. If I wanted, you to know I would tell you.”
Sighing heavily, I leaned away. I swear with him it was all baby steps forward and then within a matter of hours I’d be knocked right back to where I started.
“Are you ready to go in? We’re going to be in trouble.”
“No, we won’t.”
He sounded rather certain about this. Then again, I suspected no one said much of anything to Judas around here.
“Just sit with me for a minute.”
“…okay.”
I wasn’t sure what was going on with him right now, but if he needed someone to simply be there, he didn’t have to ask me twice.
My phone buzzed twice, notifying me of a new text. I retrieved it from my bag and checked to see who messaged. Audrey, asking where I was. I quickly replied that I was here but running behind. Judas remained silent on the other side of the car. I wanted him to open up to me, but it wasn’t like I could force his vocal cords to form words. I tried again anyway.
“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about whatever it is that’s bothering you?”
“It’s better you don’t know…right now.”
That right now seemed added like an afterthought. His reply in general confirmed he did have something preoccupying his thoughts. It was pointless to argue or push him I knew he wouldn’t tell me. His mind was made up before I ever gathered the courage to ask.
I played with the hem of my uniform’s skirt as silence regrew between us.
I wished he would let his walls down. I wouldn’t betray him; I think he knew that. I hoped he did, at least. Sadly, I couldn’t confidently say the same for him. The quiet and lack of explanation had a small kernel of concern wheedling its way into my brain. How badly would I be hurt when I knew the depth of his secrets and the reason for his ominous silence?
You know what, Jesus be a fence.
(–15h–30)÷(h+2)
I didn’t know how to get the answer to this question. I hadn’t been able to figure out the correct response for the two before it either. Was I dumb? Or was this complete bullshit? Probably both. I didn’t foresee polynomials helping me survive the real world. I withheld a sigh and randomly colored in a multiple-choice bubble just as the final bell sounded.
I could have wept for joy. No lie, I might have shed a tear. I shoved the tip of my mechanical pencil in and stood up, flexing cramped fingers. The other students filed by me, carrying their tests to the drop-off bin. I did the same, placing the paper face down so none of these geniuses could bear witness to my stupidity.
Having no reason to go to my locker, I made my way to the first floor and found Audrey waiting in her usual spot by the school’s mascot statue.
As soon as she saw my face, she had to hold back a fit of laughter. “You look like life just fucked you dry in the ass.”
“That would have been more enjoyable than the math quiz I forgot about.”
She pocketed her cell and looped an arm through mine so that we could walk side by side to the main entrance. “I’m sure you didn’t do as bad as you think.”
“Oh, I know. I did worse.”
“Rhia,” she admonished, laughing lightly.
I found myself doing the same, realizing how much I missed my best friend. The ones like Audrey were rare and precious, worth their weight in gold. She wasn’t angry at me for the day before and didn’t seem to be holding any grudges. If she did, she would have no problem telling me exactly how she felt. That was one of the many things I loved about her.
It fucking sucked a group of criminal overlords was coming between us.
Outside, the sun beamed down and had me wishing for autumn. I couldn’t stand the constant heat. I preferred colored leaves and chilly days. Audrey walked with me to the edge of the sidewalk until we reached where we had to cross.
